The Northern Trust: An Exciting Start to the FedEx Cup Playoffs

The FedEx Cup Playoffs are off to an exciting start this year. Last night, Dustin Johnson captured his fourth FedEx Cup win, beating Jordan Spieth in a playoff at the Northern Trust. It was an exciting tournament the entire way with Spieth and DJ battling for the title. Both players were clutch down the stretch, but ultimately Johnson snuck away with the title.

The front nine was anticlimactic for DJ, and a roller coaster ride for Spieth. Jordan got off to a hot start, making birdie on two of his first 5 holes, while DJ seemed to be stuck in neutral, making 8 pars before finally a birdie on the ninth. But just as Spieth seemed to have a sure victory, he dunked his tee shot in the water on 6 and made double. Another bogey on the ninth and DJ was just one shot back of the lead.

Coming down the stretch, both players played great golf. Spieth played the back nine in -2, thanks in part to a spectacular par save on 17, and DJ made an incredible up and down from the fairway to get into a playoff on 18. However, the playoff was all DJ, taking an aggressive line off the tee on the first playoff hole, and putting his drive to about where he hit his layup shot in regulation. With just a flip wedge in, it was no surprise when he put his approach to 4 feet and made the putt for the win.

DJ’s victory vaults him up to first in the FedEx Cup standings, and after he coughed up the title last year to Rory McIlroy, he is undoubtedly back with a vengeance. In a post-round interview on Sunday, Johnson said that his game is back to where it was before his injury. Considering that he won the three previous starts before his fall, I could easily see DJ going on another tear and bring home the Cup (and the $10 mil bonus) this time around.

As for Spieth, some may argue that he blew yet another easy victory yesterday. However, though a couple of costly holes on the front set him back a bit, he hung in there and made the clutch putts coming down the stretch, including a gutsy par save on 17. It was a welcome sign to see Spieth’s putter starting to heat up again. He won twice with very shaky putting, but he is trending in the right direction just in time for the playoffs. If this trend continues, look for him to make a deep run into the playoffs as well.

Written by Paul Choma